Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus such as, for example, a printer or a copying machine for forming an image on a sheet in accordance with video data includes a timer for measuring a length of time elapsed after a power supply has been turned on, an ejected-sheet detector for detecting an output object on a sheet ejection port, and a time output control for receiving respective signals from the timer and the ejected-sheet detector and outputting the present time onto a sheet whenever a predetermined period expires after the power supply has been turned on and when an output object is present on the sheet ejection port.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet in accordance with video data, comprising: 
 timer means for measuring a length of time elapsed after a power supply has been turned on;    ejected-sheet detection means for detecting an output object on a sheet ejection port; and    time output control means for receiving respective signals from the timer means and ejected-sheet detection means and outputting the present time onto a sheet whenever a predetermined period expires after the power supply has been turned on and when an output object is present on the sheet ejection port.    
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to    claim 1   , further comprising job-processing detection means for detecting whether job processing is presently executed, and wherein the time output control means outputs the present time onto a sheet after the job processing has been completed.  
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to    claim 2   , further comprising former-job detection means for detecting that job processing has been executed since the latest output of the present time, and wherein the time output control means cancels an output of the present time when any job processing has not been executed until the predetermined period has elapsed from the latest output of the present time or it has become a next set time.  
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to    claim 3   , wherein the time output control means adds management information to the present time information and outputs the present time together with the added information onto a sheet.  
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to    claim 4   , which apparatus has a duplex printing function and a capability of switching onto one of a faceup output mode and a facedown output mode, wherein the time output control means controls to output the present time during the faceup mode.  
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus according to    claim 1   , further comprising former-job detection means for detecting that job processing has been executed since the latest output of the present time, and wherein the time output control means cancels an output of the present time when any job processing has not been executed until the predetermined period has elapsed from the latest output of the present time or it has become a next set time.  
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein the time output control means adds management information to the present time information and outputs the present time together with the added information onto a sheet.  
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to    claim 1   , which apparatus has a duplex printing function and a capability of switching onto one of a faceup output mode and a facedown output mode, wherein the time output control means controls to output the present time during the faceup mode.  
     
     
         9 . An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet in accordance with video data, comprising: 
 timer means for measuring a length of time;    ejected-sheet detection means for detecting an output object on a sheet ejection port;    time setting means for setting a time to be output; and    time output control means for receiving signals from the timer means and ejected-sheet detection means and outputting the present time onto a sheet whenever the time set by the time setting means has elapsed after a power supply was turned on and when an output object is present on the sheet ejection port.    
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus according to    claim 9   , further comprising job-processing detection means for detecting whether job processing is presently executed, and wherein the time output control means outputs the present time onto a sheet after the job processing has been completed.  
     
     
         11 . The image forming apparatus according to    claim 9   , further comprising formerjob detection means for detecting that job processing has been executed since the latest output of the present time, and wherein the time output control means cancels an output of the present time when any job processing has not been executed until the predetermined period has expired from the latest output of the present time or it has become a next set time.  
     
     
         12 . The image forming apparatus according to    claim 9   , wherein the time output control means adds control information to the present time information and outputs the present time together with the added information onto a sheet.  
     
     
         13 . The image forming apparatus according to    claim 9   , which apparatus has a duplex printing function and a capability of switching onto one of a faceup output mode and a facedown output mode, wherein the time output control means controls to output the present time during the faceup mode.  
     
     
         14 . An image forming method for forming an image on a sheet in accordance with video data, comprising the steps of: 
 measuring a length of time passed since a power supply was turned on;    detecting an output object on a sheet ejection port; and    outputting the present time to a sheet whenever a predetermined period has expired after the power supply was turned on and when an output object is present on the sheet ejection port.    
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for controlling an image forming apparatus, wherein a program for outputting the present time onto a sheet whenever a predetermined period has expired after power was supplied to the image forming apparatus and when an output object is present on a sheet ejection port is included.  
     
     
         16 . An image forming method for forming an image on a sheet in accordance with video data, comprising the steps of: 
 measuring a length of time;    detecting an output object on a sheet ejection port;    setting the present time to be output; and    outputting the present time onto a sheet whenever set time has expired after a power supply was turned on and when an output object is present on the sheet ejection port.    
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for controlling an image forming apparatus, wherein 
 a program for outputting the present time onto a sheet whenever a preset time has elapsed after a power was supplied to the image forming apparatus and when an output object is present on a sheet ejection port.    
     
     
         18 . An image forming apparatus having a duplex printing function so as to be able to form an image on the surface and back of a sheet in accordance with video data, comprising: 
 designation means for designating sheet ejection of an output object on a desire page faceup; and    control means for receiving a signal from the designation means and sheet-ejecting a desired page of an output object faceup by controlling the duplex printing function while sheet-ejecting an undesignated page of an output object facedown.    
     
     
         19 . An image forming apparatus having a duplex printing function so as to be able to form an image on the surface and back of a sheet, comprising: 
 designation means for designating sheet ejection of an output object in units of job faceup; and    control means for receiving a signal from the designation means and sheet-ejecting an output object of a designated job by controlling the duplex printing function faceup while sheet-ejecting an output object of an undesignated job facedown.    
     
     
         20 . A printing system provided with a data processor and an image forming apparatus having a duplex printing function so as to be able to form an image on both sides of a sheet by receiving data from the data processcr, comprising: 
 designation means for designating sheet ejection of a desired page of an output object faceup; and    control means for receiving a signal from the designation means and sheet-ejecting a desired page of an output object faceup by controlling the duplex printing function while sheet-ejecting an undesignated page of an output object facedown.    
     
     
         21 . A printing system provided with a data processor and an image forming apparatus having a duplex printing function so as to be able to form an image on both sides of a sheet by receiving data from the data processor, comprising: 
 designation means for designating sheet ejection of an output object every job faceup; and    control means for receiving a signal from the designation means and sheet-ejecting an output object of a designated job faceup by controlling the duplex printing function while sheet-ejecting an output object of an undesignated job facedown.    
     
     
         22 . The printing system according to    claim 20   , wherein the designation means is provided for the data processor.  
     
     
         23 . The printing system according to    claim 21   , wherein the designation means is provided for the data processor.  
     
     
         24 . A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for controlling a printing system, wherein a program for sheet-ejecting a designated optional page of an output object faceup is included.  
     
     
         25 . A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for controlling a printing system, wherein a program for changing faceup sheet ejection and facedown sheet ejection of an output object every job is included.  
     
     
         26 . An output-object sheet-ejection control method used for a printing system, comprising the step of controlling an optional page of an output object so as to sheet-eject the page faceup.  
     
     
         27 . An output-object sheet-ejection control method used for a printing system, comprising the step of changing faceup sheet ejection and facedown sheet ejection of an output object every job.